Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply in which he addressed a number of aspects which come under his remit as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in terms of various offences under the Road Traffic Acts. I also mentioned the area of inconsistency in general. The Bill that we published today proposes a very constructive role for a new body, a judicial sentencing council, which would not be a new quango. I know the Minister has a particular interest in erasing quangos. He raised the matter frequently in opposition and is following through in government. The body could easily be subsumed into part of the existing Courts Service. Such a 14-member body exists in the UK with eight members of the Judiciary and six other non-judges coming from areas such as probation, health, education and policing. It draws up guidelines for sentencing which eliminate inconsistency. We get considerable exposure to the UK broadcast and print media. We do not see the coverage of inconsistent sentencing in the UK that we have here with some road traffic offences as I have outlined and particularly with some serious sexual assault crimes. There has been significant inconsistency in sentencing here.

Uniformity of sentencing would be of assistance to the Judiciary not only in the Dublin area, where much of the inconsistency emanates because of the concentration there of court sittings, but throughout the country. Different sentences in respect of the same crimes are being handed down. This matter needs to be addressed in a constructive fashion and is the purpose of the Bill moved in the House this morning. I acknowledge this issue does not come directly within the responsibility of the Minister, Deputy Varadkar but it is important that I mention it.

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